It became official from the mouth of Staind guitarist, Mike Mushock, that this spring a KILLER tour would be happening: Staind, Godsmack and Halestorm!

Staind of course have been out for a bit in support of their self-titled release; Godsmack is planning a live record this spring and Halestorm has their sophomore effort on the horizon as well. In fact in the next week or so we should be getting a brand new single from Halestorm and the record release could be pushed up to February. Actually the original plan was February, and then got pushed to March, but the rumors swirling right now and the constant teasers from the band members went from saying “Soon” to “Sooner”. The sooner the better in my book for sure!

Halestorm guitarist Joe Hottinger wrote online that he doesn’t even know the schedule yet, saying, “Apparently some people know some of the dates already. I am not one of those people, if you know where we are playing, let me know!” Halestorm front woman, Lzzy Hale posted “I am stoked to be supporting Godsmack and Staind on this tour! To be touring with the two bands of my generation that paved the way for modern rock is an honor! This line up will crush your skulls!” As you recall, Staind and Halestorm were here in December for Lazer’s Not So Silent Night and the show kicked some major ass. Now, we have to keep our fingers crossed that this new tour will circle back to us. Either that or I’m planning a road trip!

Interestingly enough, this tour does not have a name yet. So all three bands have posted on their respective websites asking for the fans help in naming the tour.  

Got an idea for a tour name? Here’s the links you need! Name away!

HALESTORM

GODSMACK

STAIND

The top five contenders will be announced on Thursday…yes….tomorrow! Then you’ll be allowed to vote for your favorite with the winning name being announced on Monday the 23rd!

West Memphis, AK 1993. Three young boys go missing. Bodies found bound, naked and mutilated. A small town panics and wants swift justice. But the justice they sought was wrong. It was wrong from the beginning. It was wrong for 18 years.  It is STILL wrong.

The story of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelly Jr., the boys who became known as the West Memphis Three, still rings fresh in my mind. I remember when it happened. I remember watching the HBO documentaries, “Paradise Lost” 1 & 2 (to which there is a third installment that just aired 1/12) and reading a book called “Devil’s Knot” and wondering how in the hell these three boys were sentenced to Death Row and life without parole.

It was clear to me; in fact probably clear to everyone else outside of West Memphis that this whole charge was beyond ridiculous. There was never enough evidence and DNA testing at that time was not what it is today. Instead these three boys were made into boogiemen because of small town narrow minded fear. The police, prosecutors, even the judge, just wanted someone to pin it on, lock them up and throw away the key. And sweep the whole entire thing under the rug. 

What happened to Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch and Michael Moore was indeed sad and tragic. But what happened to Damien, Jason and Jessie was truly criminal.

Stars like Henry Rollins, Johnny Depp, Eddie Vedder and more have been campaigning on behalf of the West Memphis Three for more than a decade trying to get anyone and everyone to take notice of the gross injustice that was thrust upon these men. Tossed away because they wore black clothing and listened to heavy music, had long hair and weren’t quite bright. They were patsy’s and had their lives stripped from them just like the three young boys that were murdered.

Fast forward 18 years and 17 days to August 19, 2011 when the Three were finally freed. With a catch. They would be released as long as they plead guilty to the crime. It’s called the Alford plea. It means that you maintain your innocence but you believe there is a strong possibility that a jury would find you guilty so you plead guilty.

Honestly, I think it’s a bit confusing, ridiculous and a little too easy to put this in place so the law that was involved in the wrongful accusation and conviction can get off scot-free.  So you want the Three to take responsibility, but you won’t?

Now there is a new push for another day in court to allow these men to exonerate themselves and clear their names. With DNA testing where it is today; former witnesses coming forward and admitting that they lied; proof that basic rights were violated (like Jessie being interrogated for almost 13 hours without even so much as a parent with him, let alone a lawyer) and most importantly knowing that the ACTUAL killer is still out there somewhere, the fight to Free the Three is far from over.

World famous film maker Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong) along with Fran Walsh and Amy Berg and executive producers Damien Echols (yes, THEE very one!) and his wife Lorri Davis are bringing a new documentary to the Sun Dance Film Festival in hopes of shedding new light on and opening new doors for the West Memphis Three. Check out the trailer for West of Memphis:

Again, I don’t argue the tragedy of the three little boys who were brutally murdered. But sadly there is nothing in this world that can bring them back. There is however a way to give life back to three other boys who had to grow up and become men behind prison bars.

This is a case, as I said; I follow closely and am very much an advocate of. Everyone deserves a second chance and for the West Memphis Three, there second chance hasn’t been completed until they get a new day in court to clear their names.

If you want to learn more about the West Memphis Three log on to wm3.org

I know it’s been FOREVER since I’ve blogged. I apologize for that. Just hasn’t been a lot that has inspired me to construct some long diatribe about anything. Life as of late has been able to be summed up into a sentence at a time to post on Facebook it seems.

Today I came across a post on Facebook with an absolutely horrific picture with an equally horrific story about a poor, defenseless German Shepherd that had his face blown up by a group of boys who thought it would be “funny” to put fireworks in the dog’s mouth and duct tape it shut. Yes, it is as bad as it sounds. The picture, even worse.

I shared the link on my page, with a “warning” that, Yes, it is horrible to look at but we must and we must share because this animal and many others like it are neglected, starved, abused, beaten, dragged, killed and apparently, blown up, every day and NOTHING gets done about it. And THAT is what makes me sick.

I am an animal lover; ALL animals. The ones I have in my home are not just pets, but are my children and I would do anything for them. In the last month I had to struggle with making the decision to put my 12 ½ year old down because she was having so much trouble getting around and suffering from dementia. IT’s the hardest decision to make; to play God and decide that this dog has lived long enough. But at the end of the day I couldn’t stand to see her suffer anymore and that the best thing I could do for her was to send her off to the Rainbow Bridge. I still find myself looking for her, or thinking I hear her bark now and again and it’s a battle some days.

So to see something like this with this poor creature that probably did nothing but love be treated like a tin can does more than break my heart. It puts me in a rage. I have never understood why someone would treat an animal like this. I have also never understood why the laws are as lax as they are for such crimes. Most people, who actually get busted, IF they get busted, get a slap on the wrist if anything. That only tells me that that animal’s life does not have the same worth as a human and I completely disagree with that. Almost every serial killer, not to mention a multitude of other violent people, began by abusing and killing innocent animals. And if it’s not that far of a stretch for someone like, let’s say, Jeffrey Dahmer, to go from killing and dismembering stray animals to cutting up and eating young boys, then why aren’t the consequences more severe?

Our laws need to change. I know it’s not an easy process. Laws are put into place by people who don’t always know what is best.  But it is up to us to convince them. We live in a society that is a democracy; a government of the people, by the people, right? We decide who represents us. We make it known what we want and don’t want. We protest, sign petitions and yell from the freakin’ rooftops if we have to. The point is, as humans, WE have to do something. We have to be the voice for the animals. We have to protect them the same way we would protect a child that can’t defend themselves.

I had someone post saying that most people who abuse animals were often abused themselves and that’s probably true. But does that mean the cycle should continue? Shouldn’t that cycle be broken by making the punishments more sufficient and justified?

What makes me even more angry is a person who commented on my post saying that “What point does looking and sharing this have? No point whatsoever. This is terrible. I wish I hadn’t seen it.”  Well I wish I hadn’t seen it either, but I did and I can’t sit silently about it. I told this person that the point is we need to stand up and speak up for the animals because they can’t do it themselves. Then this person came back and said it was “silly” and “posting this retarded shit is not going to change anything. Shock value. What are lawmakers gonna do…the laws are already in place. Wasting my time here…poof.” And wouldn’t you know it; the post disappeared from my page and many others who shared the story.

I know it’s not easy to see. But this person proved my point: too many think that if you just turn a blind eye to it then it’s not real and it never happened and it will just go away.  It’s NOT going to go away unless we do something about it.  Yes laws are in place, but laws can and need to be changed by a public that demands it.

It makes me question too, did this person, or anyone else, willingly look at photos of Moammar Gahdafi with his face blown up? Or how about Saddam Huessein? Did you look at those photos and make peace with yourself about what happened to that person? Perhaps you did because you were able to justify it because those two men were murdering tyrants and deserved what they got. 

So when it happens to someone, or an innocent dog, that DIDN’T deserve it, then it’s not ok to look at? It’s not okay to draw attention to it even though it’s disgraceful and completely unforgivable?

Even after WWII after concentration camps were liberated, there were people who insisted the entire holocaust wasn’t real, that it never happened. Those people were rounded up and taken on a tour so they could witness with their own eyes what had happened to some six million innocent people. Shocking? Yes. Was there a point to it? Yes.

Blindness was no longer an option. Nor should it be with this dog or any other abused animal.

So during a recent book reading given by former GnR bassist, author and Wall Street Journal columnist, Duff McKagen, a jackass in the crowd challenged the truth behind one of Duff’s stories. The story pertained to Duff sharing a flight and a seat next to Kurt Cobain shortly before his suicide. Check out the vid!

So there’s a new band on the horizon. A new band with two veterans of the music scene that I think you need to check out. Kill Devil Hill was started by legendary drummer, Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell) and bassist Rex Brown (Pantera, Down)

They are coming to town November 2nd at House of Bricks. I had the chance to catch up with Rex and Vinny and get the low down on KDH, complete with a history lesson and a look toward the future. Check out the podcast here!

They say time heals all wounds. But some scars never fade.

I woke up today with plans of remembrance. In fact that was the only thing on my agenda:to take time out of my life to stop what I’m doing, to stop whatever insignificant thing might be going on to remember what happened on what started out as a beautiful September morning.

I was up this morning to watch the ceremonies from Ground Zero and the dedication of the Memorial Plaza; the reveal of two stunning infinity waterfalls that are the same size and shape and sit in the exact spot of the Twin Towers. The reading of the names, the faces of children who were barely old enough to know their parent who had perished. To see people embrace each other, share stories, tears and the strength of a tragic common bond.

Ten years has gone by, we all know what happened. What you might not know is that it still feels like yesterday. I spent most of the day watching special after special right down to MSNBC replaying that morning’s broadcast, reliving every second of it. Realizing that it still hurts, a lot. There’s sadness, sympathy, empathy. But after 10 years, my anger has subsided a little.

I’m sure we all know exactly where we were and what we were doing on that day, at that moment we found out that America was under attack. That the two biggest symbols of America, in America’s most famous city were brought down. Hours upon hours of uncertainty on so many levels. I remember where I was, I remember as well, 40 straight hours in front of a television; unable to turn away, unable to sleep for fear of missing something. A survivor being pulled out of The Pile, a glimmer of anything to bring some hope out of the darkest day in our history.

I like so many, took the whole ordeal very hard. I knew our world would never be the same. Nothing about our lives will ever be the same. It makes me think of my grandparents, even my parents and stories growing up about “all the things they’ve seen”. I’m 39 and I realize in my short life, I’ve seen some pretty serious shit too, especially now.

I have a connection to NYC that is difficult to explain. I have many friends that live there (all are ok) but the City itself is special to me for reasons I don’t necessarily know. As corny as it sounds it’s almost as if I lived a previous life there. I have been to the city prior to 9/11 and again in January of 2003 witnessing the crater that had been left behind. Seeing a temporary memorial of nearly 3000 names along with a chronological pictorial attached to a giant iron fence that surround the entire WTC plaza.

One of the ways I deal with tragedy in my life is to capture it on my skin. I have many tattoos on my body, all of them mean something and several of those have been placed as a memorial of sorts, including a large piece on my left thigh. It depicts God’s hands coming thru the clouds, holding the American flag and the Twin Towers poking up thru the clouds behind His hands, a yellow 9/11 ribbon wraps around the front. I had it done in November 2011 and it was my way of dealing. I look at it every day and remember. I also look at my living room wall that is covered with various photographs and posters of what NYC USED to look like, my subway map, and subway tokens. A statue that I purchased in a shop inside a NYC subway store in 2003 that depicts the three fire fighters that raised an American flag amongst the rubble of Ground Zero. I remember EVERY day.

If I remember every day, how can I not stop once a year and remember? I DO stop. Every year. Today is no exception starting at 7 o’clock this morning.

I posted on Facebook like many others today. My first post around 8am was simply “Never forget”. A short time later I saw a post I had to borrow:

“Times of impact: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m.

Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes.

Time they took to fall: 12 seconds.

2819 dead from 115 different nations. 343 Fireman, 37 Port Authority Officers, 23 NYPD, and 9 EMT/Paramedics.

**** REPOST IF YOU WILL NEVER FORGET 9/11…In memory of those who lost their lives ****~*~* We will Forever Remember”

I continued to watch the television, occasionally getting up on a commercial or something to dust, vacuum start laundry; anything to keep busy. But found myself continually drawn back to the TV. I had plans for this afternoon to head to the Broadlawns; the “county hospital” where those, like me, that don’t have a lot of money or insurance go for medical care. Well, my plan today was to help out the kids. I wanted to pay it forward in some way. I bought a ton of crayons, markers and the like with the “I WILL” campaign in mind. I don’t have a lot of money but I wanted to do something positive, something for someone else.

Before making the trek to the hospital while still watching coverage I check in to Facebook and quickly felt my anger rise.

I started seeing posts that were negative; they were apathetic, and just downright mean. People saying they were tired of hearing about 9/11, tired of the coverage, tired of the posts, tire d of the talk, going so far as to make what appeared to be more or less ANTI 9/11 remarks. Dare I say almost hateful? Some of it as simple as why are we still doing this? Why are we still stopping to remember each year?

Do we not stop and remember Dr. King each January? Do we not stop and remember all of our fallen service personnel every May on Memorial Day? Do we not stop and remember what our Nation’s flag means to us every June? Do we not stop and remember our country’s freedom every July? Do we not stop and remember all our veterans every November? Do we not stop every December 7th and remember Pearl Harbor and in turn the Holocaust? So why in the hell should we not stop and remember once a year, and particularly today the tenth year since life as we know it changed forever?

Do you think any of the fire fighters, police officers, EMTS, Port Authority, family members of those lost ever forget? Do you think there’s a day that goes by they don’t look up to that NYC skyline and get reminded? Do you think that they close their eyes at night and don’t see flames, debris and bodies falling from the sky? Do you think those that are now getting sick and getting cancer from the time they spent in that hell forget? Do you think the widows and widowers of those that have died from those illnesses forget?

For those that are “Sick of hearing about it” maybe you need to stop and remember just how selfish you are being. Of those nearly 3000 that died, 343 Fireman, 37 Port Authority Officers, 23 NYPD, and 9 EMT/Paramedics didn’t think twice about their own lives. They ran in while others were trying to get out. There were countless others; firefighters, iron workers, construction workers, volunteers who spent hours digging thru The Pile trying to not only find survivors but countless months after on the recovery and clean up mission.

And now 10 years later, while we should still be remembering, are getting sick and many dying because of their selfless acts.

So perhaps you should put your self righteous bullshit aside. Ironic thing is some of these remarks are coming from people who are also vocally protesting the fact that we still have soldiers over in Iraq and Afghanistan trying to keep terrorism from coming back to our soil again. Did you know that some of those vets are at Ground Zero right now helping to rebuild???

Like it or not, 9/11 happened. Like it or not, our world has changed forever. If we don’t’ stop and remember what happened, if we don’t stop and remember the sacrifices what kind of human beings do we become? How selfish do we become by refusing to pay our respects? It is important to remember not only to honor those we lost but to learn and keep it from ever happening again. Remembering is part of recovery. Recovery is part of healing.

I get asked quite often if I lost someone on 9/11. My thought is YES. I lost nearly 3000 of my brothers and sisters. We are all God’s children. I believe that and therefore, yes, I lost MANY on that day. And that is why I remember. That is why I never forget.

From 4 to 5pm today and all while driving and in no particular order:

A dumbass in his company truck didn’t pull over for an ambulance (too busy talking on phone), the while still talking on phone impedes traffic and drives in 2 lanes; bicyclist (who want us to share the road) blows thru a 3 way stop sign. I almost creamed him. Got behind a car trying to merge into 60mph rush hour freeway going 30; cut off on the exit; woman driving a jag pulls away from curb parking out in front of me. I miss her by inches. 15 sec of solid horn, she doesn’t even look up to her mirror; traffic on 100th stops dead for a passing fawn (I’ll not only allow that one, but applaud it); Woman in front of me ready to turn on 17th can’t decide what lane to drive in and has no clue I’m there; odd man sitting on curb with a sign that reads “2 lamps $10″. Both his feet and sign stuck out far enough i had to swerve into next lane. I shoulda never left the house!

Ok, my summer guilty pleasure show is America’s Got Talent. I’m a sucker for it. So much better than American Idol  because there is so much more than singing. Aside from amazing talent, there are some amazing stories that go along with each contestant.

One of those is Lys Agnes. She’s a trained opera singer who had a promising career ahead of her. Her fiancee was killed and she lost her hope, passion and dreams when he died. So along comes AGT and the willingness to take a chance and audition. Naturally she’s blown everyone away not only with her voice but she is an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous woman.

She’s performed classical pieces like “Ave Maria” and “Haberana” from  Carmen. Last night in the semi-finals she took a song that all Lazer listeners know and  many love and adapted it into a classical operatic form. And it was amazing!

Check out Lys Agnes and her spin on the Evanescence tune, “Bring Me To Life”

And yes, she did advance to the finals!

Seether was on Conan last night performing their new song, “Tonight” from the CD “Holding On To Strings Better Left to Fray”.